Adjustment device for an article of clothing, a bag, or other article

ABSTRACT

An article of clothing or bag, at least a first dimension of which is adjustable lengthwise, including an adjustment cord and a blocker acting on the cord; the adjustment cord including a captive portion, the length of which is relative to the length the first dimension and a free portion, the blocker being capable of taking a plurality of positions with respect to the cord, thus marking the boundary between the free portion and the captive portion of the cord. A gusset is arranged in the vicinity of the blocker, the gusset including a closure mechanism enabling the gusset to be selectively configured to and from open and closed positions. The free portion of the cord extends through a distal keeper arranged inside the gusset, the distal keeper being positioned at a distance from the blocker such that, when the gusset is in the closed position, most of the length of the free portion is inside the gusset.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The instant application is based upon the French priority Patent Application No. 10.00387, filed Feb. 1, 2010, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto, and the priority of which is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. §119.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an article of clothing or a bag, as well as other types of articles, at least a first dimension of which is adjustable lengthwise by means of an adjustment cord, or drawstring, with which a blocker is associated.

2. Background Information

A mechanism for adjusting one of the dimensions of a garment is common in the clothing industry. For example, the bottom of a rain jacket can be equipped with one or several cords, or drawstrings, arranged at the lower periphery thereof. At least one blocker cooperates with the cord(s) in order to reduce the effective length thereof after adjustment.

Adjustment cords, or drawstrings, of the aforementioned type are also known to adjust the opening perimeter of a hood, sleeves, or the waistband of a pair of pants, or even the opening of a bag.

In order to facilitate the handling of the cord, it sometimes includes a loop that the user can easily grip or manipulate. Such adjustment systems are simple and can be used in any type of garment or bag. However, when the range of adjustment is minimal, a great portion of the cord is typically unused and it hangs out of the garment or out of the bag. This free portion of the adjustment cord may cause an accident. For example, if the adjustment cord is used to adjust the bottom of a pair of pants, the user could step on the free portion of the cord and stumble.

If the cord is used to adjust the bottom of a sports jacket, while the user is moving (running, cycling, etc.), a risk is created for the loop formed by the free portion of the cord to become inadvertently caught on a hook or on a projecting object in the vicinity the user's path.

In addition to the safety concerns for the user, the sight of the free portion of the adjustment cord hanging out of the garment or the bag is not particularly aesthetically pleasing.

Therefore, there exists a need for an improvement to the cord adjustment device, which solves the problems and overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art systems.

SUMMARY

To this end, the invention provides a device for the lengthwise adjustment of a portion of an article of clothing or a bag, such as the size of a periphery of an opening of an article of clothing or bag, or that of other articles, the device including an adjustment cord that is aesthetically appealing, easy to handle, and guarantees maximum safety for the user.

To this end, an embodiment of the invention encompasses an article of clothing or a bag, at least a first dimension of which is adjustable lengthwise, and which includes an adjustment cord and a blocker acting on the cord; the adjustment cord includes a captive portion, the length of which is connected to the length of the first dimension, and a free portion; the blocker can take a plurality of positions in relation to the cord, thus marking the boundary between the free portion and the captive portion of the cord; a gusset is arranged in the vicinity of the blocker, the gusset including a closure mechanism enabling it to switch from a first position, or more open position, to a second position, or closed or less open position; and the free portion extends through a distal keeper arranged within the gusset, the distal keeper being positioned at a distance from the blocker such that, when the gusset is in the closed position, a majority of the length of the free portion is inside the gusset.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the length of the cord is such that when the adjustment of the first dimension is at its maximum, the free portion of the cord extends beyond the distal keeper, and when the adjustment of the first dimension is at its minimum, the length of the extension of the free portion is substantially equal to or less than double the distance separating the blocker from the distal keeper.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the captive portion of the cord is received in a tunnel, or at least is covered, an eyelet being capable of being arranged at the outlet of the tunnel or covering.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the captive portion and the free portion of the cord each include two strands.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, a proximal keeper is positioned between the blocker and the distal keeper, the blocker being retained between the tunnel/covering and the proximal keeper.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the distal keeper includes two passages, one for each of the strands of the free portion of the cord.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the description that follows, with reference to the annexed drawings illustrating, by way of non-limiting embodiments, how the invention can be embodied, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of a pair of pants equipped with the lengthwise adjustment device according to the invention;

FIGS. 2 to 6 are detailed views of the lower portion of one of the legs of the pair of pants of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 7 to 10 are schematic illustrations of the circumference of the lower portion of the pair of pants corresponding to FIGS. 2, 6, 3 and 5, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an article of clothing 1, i.e., a garment in the form of a pair of pants, adapted to be worn by the user. A device 16 for lengthwise adjustment of a first dimension of the article of clothing, i.e., the pair of pants, is arranged at the bottom of each leg 17 thereof. The first dimension, which is adjustable by means of the device 16, corresponds to the circumference of the lower portion of a leg 17 of the pair of pants.

An adjustment device 16 according to the invention could also be positioned in the area of the waistband 15 of the pants in order to adjust the size thereof, i.e., the circumference around the waistband.

A gusset 12, shown, e.g., in FIGS. 2-4, is arranged in the panel 2 constituting the outer surface of the lower portion of the pants. The gusset 12 is formed by way of a slit arranged in the panel 2, the slit being closed by means of a closure, such as a zipper 4 or other slide fastener. Behind the zipper 4, a substantially triangular panel section 14, or gusset back or back panel, is sewn, or otherwise situated.

FIG. 1 shows the gusset 12 in the closed position, and therefore not visible from the outside of the pants.

FIGS. 7 and 8, which schematically show the circumference of the bottom of the pants, i.e., of the panel 2 thereof, along a transverse cross section, enable the function of the gusset 12 to be understood.

In FIG. 7, the gusset 12 is in the open position, the circumference of the bottom of the pants is then comprised of the panel 2 as well as the gusset back panel 14.

In FIG. 8, the gusset 12 is in the closed position; the circumference of the bottom of the pants is now only comprised of the panel 2.

FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the lower portion of a leg 17 of the pants. The gusset 12 is in the open position. The slider 5 of the zipper 4, as well as the pull tab thereof, are positioned at the upper end of the slit. The back 14 of the gusset is completely deployed, i.e., completely extended. The device for adjusting the length of the circumference of the lower edge 18 of the pants is comprised a cord 7, or lace or other such element, and a blocker 13. The cord 7 is positioned in a tunnel 6, or passageway, arranged in the vicinity of the lower edge 18. The tunnel 6 extends along the entire circumference of the bottom of the pants and is prolonged into the area of the back panel 14 of the gusset 12. Two eyelets 21 are positioned in the gusset back 14 to enable the cord to pass from the interior of the tunnel 6 towards the outside, where it is exposed when the slider of the zipper is positioned upwardly therefrom, and vice versa.

The cord 7 is arranged in the tunnel 6 over the entire length thereof and exits the tunnel through the eyelets 21, 21.

The length of the circumference of the bottom of the leg of the pants, referred to as the first dimension in the context of this specification, is directly related to the length of the portion of the cord that is in the tunnel 6.

The adjustment of the length of the cord 7 in the tunnel 6 is carried out using the blocker 13, with which the strands of the cord are in cooperative engagement. After passing through the eyelets, the two strands of the cord extend through the blocker 13. The portion of the cord in the tunnel 6 is called the captive portion of the cord. The remaining portion of the cord is called the free portion.

Upon exiting the blocker 13, in a direction away from the eyelets, the two strands of the cord are guided in their path by means of a proximal keeper 9, arranged on the gusset back 14; each strand is then guided in its path by means of a distal keeper 10, 11, which are both arranged on the back 14 of the gusset 12.

The two distal keepers 10 and 11, as well as the proximal keeper 9, are created by means of a single band of material 22, or panel section, stitched, e.g., to the gusset back 14. The band 22 is laterally stitched to the gusset back 14 and to the panel 2, along the lines defining the two upwardly extending legs of the triangle shape of the back 14. The band 22 is additionally secured to the gusset back 14 by means of the lines of stitching 23 that are appropriately positioned for the purpose of forming the aforementioned keepers 9, 10, 11. Two of these stitching lines 23 are made in the vicinity of the lower edge of the band 22. The passage between these two stitching lines constitutes the proximal keeper 9. A third stitching line is made in the vicinity of the upper edge of the band. Each of passages made on the right and on the left of this line of stitching 23 constitutes one of the distal keepers 10 and 11.

In FIGS. 2 and 7 the gusset 12 is in the open position, the captive portion 20 of the cord being at its maximum, whereas the free portion 19 is at its minimum. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the total length of the cord 7 is selected so that the end loop 24 of the free portion 19 is in the vicinity of the two distal keepers 10 and 11. There is an advantage to having two distal keepers, instead of one. Indeed, as each of the strands of the cord 7 is in a distinct distal keeper, the end loop necessarily remains above the distal keepers 10 and 11.

From the open position of the gusset 12 shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, two possibilities of adjustment are offered to the user.

The first of these possibilities is shown in FIGS. 6 and 8. In this case, the user closes the gusset by maneuvering the slider 5 of the zipper 4 downward. The circumference decreases in relation to the open position of the gusset 12, as shown in the diagram of FIG. 8.

However, there has been no modification to the length of the captive portion 20 of the cord.

The second possibility involves the user pulling on the cord 7. To this end, the user grips the end loop of the free portion 19 of the cord, i.e., by means of the gripping element 8, or pull tab, that is attached thereto. A pulling force, or tension, applied to the cord 7, i.e., to the loop of the free portion 19 thereof, decreases the length of the captive portion 20. This tension phase is illustrated in FIG. 3. The blocker 13, which the outer dimensions prevent from passing through the proximal keeper 9 and the eyelets 21, is confined between these various elements and, thereby, the strands of the cord slide within the blocker 13 during such pulling of the cord as the configuration of the device and pants leg goes from that of FIG. 2 to that of FIG. 3.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention, the blocker 13, or cord lock, is of the self-locking type, i.e., such as that which includes a spring-biased element within a housing, the element being manipulable by means of the button shown at an end of the blocker so as to oppose the spring force and more easily allow the blocker to slide relative to the strands of the cord which pass through the then aligned openings of the element and its housing; a sufficiently strong tension on the strands of the cord contributes to the release and sliding of the strands of the cord in the blocker. As soon as the tension on the strands is loosened, the blocker stops and maintains its position on the cord for as long as the maneuvering pressure is exerted on the button of the blocker.

At the conclusion of this phase, the circumference of the bottom of the pants is in the intermediate position shown schematically in FIG. 9.

The user can choose to maintain the adjustment obtained. However, by doing so, he/she will not profit from all the advantages offered by the invention, as explained further below.

The following description is directed to closing the gusset 12. This is illustrated in FIG. 4. By closing the zipper 4 when handling the pull tab of the slider 5, the free portion 19 of the cord folds over itself, the fold being formed in the vicinity of the distal keepers 10 and 11.

The end of the closing phase is shown in FIGS. 5 and 10. The zipper 4 is then entirely closed; the free portion loop of the cord is entirely hidden inside the gusset 12. As can be seen in FIG. 10, this position (closed gusset+captive portion at its minimum) corresponds to the minimal length of the circumference of the bottom of the pants.

The position of the distal keepers 10, 11 with respect to the blocker 13 is such that, when the length of the captive portion 20 of the cord 7 is at its minimum, the distance between the blocker 13 and the distal keepers is substantially equal to half the length of the loop comprised of the two strands of the free portion 19 of the cord. Thus, whatever the adjustment of the cord, when the gusset 12 is in the closed position, most of the length of the free portion is inside the gusset.

In a modified version, the cord 7 has only one strand, the adjustment of the circumference of the bottom of the pants being carried out only on a portion of the lower edge. The function remains the same, except for some minor adaptations to the structure. Only one eyelet 21 and only one distal keeper 10 are then necessary. In order to maintain the free end of the free portion 19 of the cord 7 beyond the distal keeper 10, a gripping element 8 is selected, the outer dimensions of which obstruct the passage into the keeper. The distance between the distal keeper and the blocker 13 corresponds substantially to half the length of the free portion 19, when the captive portion 20 is at its minimum.

Other alternative structures as well as positioning of the device of the invention on any article of clothing or bag are possible within the scope of the invention.

In this regard, for example, rather than closing or tightening the periphery of a portion of an article of clothing, such as that of the lower edge of a leg of a pair of pants, the upper edge, e.g., of a bag, such as the upper edge of a backpack or other bag can be equipped with a gusset, cord/drawstring, and associated structure described above and illustrated in the drawing. In this regard, rather than illustrating views of the lower portion of one of the legs of a pair of pants, FIGS. 2-10 can be considered views of an upper portion of a bag or other article, i.e., turned upside-down for an upper opening thereof, with the zipper being pulled upward to move the gusset to a closed position.

In addition, the invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein. 

1. An article comprising clothing or a bag, having a lengthwise adjustable first dimension, said article comprising: an adjustment cord; a blocker in cooperative engagement with the cord; said adjustment cord comprising: a captive portion having a length extending along the first dimension of the article; a free portion; said blocker being structured and arranged to be positioned selectively in any of a plurality of positions relative to the cord, each of said positions marking a boundary between the free portion and the captive portion of the cord; a gusset arranged in a vicinity of the blocker, said gusset comprising: a closure enabling the gusset to be switch from a first position to a second position; a distal keeper for the cord inside the gusset; the free portion of the cord being in guiding contact with the distal keeper inside the gusset, said distal keeper being positioned at a distance from the blocker and arranged such that, when the gusset is in the second position, a majority of the length of the free portion of the cord is inside the gusset.
 2. An article according to claim 1, wherein: said first position of the gusset is an open position; and said second position of the gusset is a closed position.
 3. An article according to claim 1, wherein: the cord has a length such that, when the adjustment of the first dimension is at a maximum, the free portion of the cord extends beyond the distal keeper, and when the adjustment of the first dimension is at a minimum, the free portion of the cord has a length extended substantially equal to or less than twice a distance separating the blocker from the distal keeper.
 4. An article according to claim 1, further comprising: a passageway; the captive portion of the cord being received in the passageway.
 5. An article according to claim 1, further comprising: a proximal keeper positioned between the blocker and the distal keeper; the blocker being retained between the passageway and the proximal keeper.
 6. An article according to claim 1, further comprising: an eyelet arranged at an outlet of the passageway.
 7. An article according to claim 1, wherein: each of the captive portion and the free portion of the cord each includes two strands.
 8. An article according to claim 1, wherein: the distal keeper includes two passages, one for each of the strands of the free portion of the cord. 